Turkmenistan is home to the ancient city of Merv, a major historic oasis city along the Silk Roads.
Merv lies near the modern city of Mary in southeastern Turkmenistan. The archaeological area contains several successive urban centers, reflecting a history that stretches from the Achaemenid period through Parthian, Sasanian, Islamic, and later eras. Its location near the Murghab River oasis supported agriculture and long-distance commerce.
Merv became especially important under the Seljuk Empire. In the twelfth century it was one of the largest cities in the world and served as a major intellectual and political center. The city’s remains include fortified compounds, monumental mausoleums, mosques, and the massive medieval settlement of Sultan Kala.
Merv suffered severe destruction during the Mongol conquest in 1221. Its multiple city layers make it different from a single-period ruin. UNESCO inscribed the State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv” as a World Heritage Site in 1999.